How To Care For A Golden Retriever Puppy
Your Golden Retriever puppy will have a built-in timer which prompts him for eating on time. You should give him three meals per week for the first three weeks, and then you should feed him twice every day for the rest.
Professional trainers, breeders and professionals prefer to feed their dogs twice daily. Many dogs only eat once a week, but smaller meals provide more satisfaction, better weight control and can prevent bloating. Your dog will also think its big deal that you give him the same food twice a day.
Feed your puppy from 6 to 7 a.m. until noon. Then, feed him again between noon and 5 or 6. For easier house training, do not feed him after 6: p.m.
He can have an ice-cube to keep him hydrated if he becomes thirsty. He will be fine through the night if he takes a trip outside at 10 pm.
He will need three meals per days for the next few months. At around 11 or 12, he will be able to eat twice per day.
While each Golden puppy will have its own unique meal size, an average Golden puppy consumes approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cup of dry foods per meal.
Give it water and let it air dry. The best way to prevent tartar build-up is to dry it out, especially after his adult teeth come in.
Overgrown Golden Retriever Puppy
This is characterized by an overly fast rate of growth. Largely a case of overfeeding your puppy, it is not good for its health. Obesity in puppies leads to lots of health risks. Moreover, dogs find it very difficult to shed this extra weight. Overweight puppies or adult dogs suffer skeletal problems, hip dysplasia, and issues with their joints.
These are reasons enough for golden retriever owners to follow the feeding guidelines in order to keep their puppies at just the right weight.
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult Dog Food
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult Dog Food is specifically tailored to Golden Retrievers. It contains nutritious ingredients that target healthy skin and coat, cardiac function, and ideal weight. This is another top choice of our staff veterinarians.
Below is a feeding chart for Royal Canin Golden Retriever adult dog food.
Royal Canin Golden Retriever Adult Feeding Chart
| Weight | |
|---|---|
| 5- 6 5/8 Cups Per Day | |
| 88 lbs. | 5 ¼ 6 7/8 Cups Per Day |
If you are looking for a dog food that gets down to the precise amounts, then Royal Canin is for you. They are extremely specific on the weight of your Golden Retriever and the number of cups per day.
The range of amount of food can be explained by your dogs activity level for that day. If your Goldens activity is high, you should feed them the higher amount for the day. If their activity for the day is lower, go with the lower amount.;
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What Makes Food High
Dogs are omnivores, so a good dog food will have a mix of meat, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Theyll have few preservatives, added sugar, salt, or artificial colors.
The protein will come from readily available sources such as chicken or beef, and not exotic or boutique sources like kangaroo or venison .
Make sure to choose a puppy food that is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials .
On the label, it will say is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
AAFCO has strict standards for dog food and decides whether or not it is suitable to be sold as advertised.
Now heres a common misconception about dog food: animal byproducts are bad.
According to the AKC, quality, regulated animal byproducts can be good for your dog.
These byproducts can include organ meats or entrails, which often contain more nutrients than, say, plain chicken breast.
Of course, some foods may contain non-regulated byproducts, like hooves, intestinal contents, or even manure, so its important that you choose a reputable dog food.
Another misconception is that dogs should eat grain-free diets, which well cover later.
What Nutrients Does A Goldendoodle Puppy Need
A Goldendoodle puppy needs a balanced dietthat is made up of foods that are easy to digest. These foods include proteins, such as chicken, beef, lamb, and other white meats.
They also will include vegetables, such as asparagus, bell peppers, carrots, and even cauliflower. They also can have fruits like apples included in their diet. Look for foods that are high in protein, glucosamine, omega-3 fatty acids, and have fruits and vegetables as well.
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How Much To Give Your Puppy
Determining how much to feed a golden retriever puppy will depend on age and the puppy itself.;Your veterinarian can help you determine the right diet and amount for your dog. In general, a golden retriever puppy thats about 7 weeks old will eat between a third and a half a cup of dry puppy food every meal. Make sure you have water available with all meals.
You will want to increase the food volume gradually. At 3 months old, a puppy may eat up to 1.5 cups a day. At 4 months, it may eat 2.5 cups a day. At 6 or 7 months, male dogs may eat up to 4 cups a day, but female golden retrievers may eat 3 cups. Since there is such a variety, its important to adjust the volume for your dog specifically.
Can You Free Feed Your Goldendoodle Puppy
Free feeding is the process where you set the daily allowed amount of food out for your dog and he just eats it as he goes throughout the day.
This can work well for some dogs, especially ones who have more self-control and knows how to listen to their stomachs. This is not the cast with a Goldendoodle puppy.
The puppy is going to eat the entire allotment in the first meal and then later when he is hungry again, he is going to look for food. Puppies need three meals a day and should not be free-fed.
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Never Trust Your Golden Retriever
Never decide how much you feed your dog based on how hungry your Golden Retriever is. Golden Retrievers are notoriously food orientedmore than any breed I have personally come across. They love foodI mean they LOVE food. Most Golden Retrievers will eat and eat and eat if allowed to and will become morbidly obese if permitted.
Please remember thisunless your dog has a major health issue like a thyroid problem, if your dog is obese it is;YOUR FAULT! This might sound blunt, but its very important to know that you alone are responsible for teaching proper behaviors and habits in your puppy. You have the ability to limit your dogs intake and you should take advantage of that opportunity daily.
Goldens will almost always overeat;if given the opportunity, so you cannot trust their appetite. I have had many emails from clients saying things like You dont understandmy dog is always hungry. Most Goldens eat like theyve never eaten a day in their life, rarely chew their food and beg for more.
We even have had Golden Retrievers that eat so fast they vomit EVERY mealand eat it again. For those dogs, we implement a couple of strategies, since eating and throwing up is not healthy. First,;soak their food with water moments before feeding them. You dont want the food to sit in water for long because the dry kibble is actually good for cleaning their teeth. This little technique of filling their bowl up with water forces them to slow down while eating .
Are Golden Retrievers Considered Large Breed Dogs
According to the American Kennel Club , the Golden Retriever is considered a medium-sized dog breed. On other lists, they are classified as large. When it comes to conflicting information, well look instead at the facts. A mature Golden Retriever will grow to stand 21-24; inches tall and weigh in the range of 55-75 pounds .
For comparison, a bonafide Large Breed Dog like the Rottweiler will weigh from 77-130 pounds and stand; 22-27 inches tall . The Beagle, a medium-sized breed, will weigh roughly 25 pounds at maturity and stand at 13-16 inches tall .
As you see, the Golden Retriever comes in at the low end of Large Dog Breeds and at the high end of medium-sized Dog Breeds!
FUN FACTS:;The Blue Great Dane is the record-holding tallest dog, able to reach a height of 7 feet 3 inches when standing on his back paws! In contrast, a Chihuahua holds the record for being the shortest dog a mere 3.8 inches !
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Why Is Important To Start Young
Young dogs are more like small children. They can be easily molded into becoming good adult dogs when their training starts out young. Waiting for them to reach adulthood or even adolescence before training them does not bear the desirable fruits.
Design a strict schedule for your puppys daily activities in order to set a pattern for them to follow even if they are not in the mood for it. This will eventually cause them to grow into better-behaved adult dogs.
When To Feed A Golden Retriever Puppy
When you first bring your Golden Retriever puppy home, you should;feed them 3 times a day. Puppies have small stomachs but large calorie needs to support their growth.
When your puppy turns 6 months old, start feeding them twice a day.
You should continue to feed your Golden Retriever twice a day throughout their life. Free feeding makes it hard to see just how much your dog is eating and may contribute to obesity.
The last meal of the day, especially for puppies, should be about 90 minutes before bedtime. That gives them time to digest their food and go potty before bed.
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How Much To Feed Your Golden Retriever
June 3, 2019 by Karen Summers
This page has guidelines and a chart with information on how much to feed a Golden Retriever. There is also info on how to keep your puppy and your adult at his or her optimum weight. Scroll down to find growth charts to make sure your puppy is growing at the proper rate and is within the right weight range for his age. If you are looking for information on what to feed, go to How to Choose a Dog Food.
Puppies Grow Too Fast BEFORE They Grow Fat
Most American dogs are overweight and many American large breed puppies are growing too fast, subjecting them to skeletal and joint problems, some of which may not actually show up until later in life.;
Unlike with human children, a puppy that is overfed will grow too fast before they grow too fat.; Ive seen examples of this many times with two puppies from the same litter raised in different homes. A good example is where a smaller puppy at 10 weeks was overfed and his growth was compared to a puppy that was correctly fed.
Control the Growth of Your Puppy
If you have a puppy that doesnt have especially large parents and he/she is growing into what you think is going to be a large dog, consider that you may be feeding your puppy too much .; The growth of your puppy needs to be controlled. ;;
You Should Be Able to Feel Ribs But Not See Them
Dont underfeed your dog either.; You should be able to lightly feel your dogs ribs.; A dog shouldnt be so thin that you can see his/her ribs, even when your dog is wet. ;
Common Problems With Feeding Golden Retriever Puppies
It is better to offer three or meals per day in order to avoid potentially life-threatening gastric problems. Unfortunately, many Golden Retriever owners dont realize that their breed is susceptible to gastric problems that can require emergency care.
Gastric dilatation or volvulus is a common problem in larger dog breeds. While it is not understood exactly what causes the problem, it is well known that breeds with deep-chest are more susceptible and golden retrievers are one of them.
Volvulus or gastric dilatation can occur when there is a large buildup of gas due to large meals. The stomach will dilate due to an accumulation of food and gas and a point may be reached when the excessive food and gas cannot get expelled. The stomach may get distended until it eventually twists and ruptures. The ability to breath is negatively affected since the pressure on the diaphragm may not permit the lungs to expand adequately. There will also be decreased blood flow to the stomach.
If your pup is suffering from volvulus or gastric dilatation, it might show the following symptoms:
- Stretching awkwardly
- Fainting
If you see these symptoms you need to rush your golden retriever pup to the veterinarian and provide it emergency care.
In order to reduce the chances of gastric dilatation, you should feed your puppy at least three meals per day. It is better not to feed older puppies two meals each day so that the chances of gastric dilatation are minimized.
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How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers usually weigh from 55 to 75 pounds and reach their full height and weight when they are 12 to 18 months old. Keep in mind that every dog is an individual and that it can take more or less time for your Golden puppy to reach his adult size. However, your Goldens caloric needs will greatly decrease when he reaches 12 to 14 months and he will no longer need the same amount of food as before.
An adult and active Golden will need to eat between 1,300 to 1,700 calories per day. However, keep in mind that age, weight, activity level, health problems, and overall lifestyle will determine how many calories your Golden needs per day.
For example, nursing mothers and dogs that perform heavy work will need more than 2,000 calories per day in order to maintain their weight and stay healthy. On the other hand, if your pooch is more of a couch potato type than an athlete he will probably need around 1,000 calories a day in order to maintain a healthy weight.
During adulthood, your Golden Retriever feeding schedule should consist of two equally spaced meals ideally, you should feed your dog in the morning and evening. If you opt for feeding high-quality large breed dog food, an optimal Golden Retriever food amount will be:
- Females: 2 to 2 ½ cups a day
- Males: 3 to 3 ½ cups a day
- Active Males: 4 cups a day
- Nursing Females: 5 to 6 cups a day
How Much Food Should My 12 Week Puppy Eat
Maggie’sVoice said:OK, but that is insane amount of growth at 5 pounds a week up until 4 months, 20 lbs in a month? And 60lbs at 6 months but 65-75 at a year? Never seen goldens grow like that personally and have had 3.Also the growth plates close at 12 months so your pup won’t be growing after that or soon after but will fill out a few pounds till about 18 months or so. It’s like looking at guy at 18 and then again at 25 or 28 and weighs the same but certainly doesn’t look the same.
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Should I Feed My Golden Retriever Table Food
Feeding your Golden Retriever table food is not the best practice but can be done in moderation. Some table foods are healthy for them such as blueberries and plain yogurt.
Just be aware that feeding them too much table food can throw their entire diet out of whack. They may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals like they do from their dog food.
Should I Feed Dry Or Wet Food To My Golden Retriever Puppy
Another question which is asked quite often by pet owners is: what are the pros and cons of feeding dry food vs. wet food to my puppy?
Wet food is typically more expensive and it comes in single serving packets, pouches or cans. Dogs often find that wet food is tastier than dry food.
Dry food is often relatively cheaper and it is also known as kibble. You can scoop it out of its packet and serve it directly to the dog. In the case of a puppy, youll want to add some water to make it a little moist and soft so that it is more appealing.
When you are weaning your puppy you should make sure that you are giving it wet food. This is often the best option. If you serve dry food, then you should soften it by adding a little water.
You should be a little bit more careful with dry kibble since it can be calorie dense and it can make your pup overweight if you are not watchful.
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What We Feed Our Golden
Oliver had a few different brands of food that he ate as a puppy.
First, we started him off on one of the brands listed in the graph above that is correlated with DCM.
Once we heard about the study we switched to another brand, although he didnt like that at all.
Then we switched to another brand that he just sort of liked.
Finally, after talking to a few veterinarians and golden retriever breeders, we decided to test out Royal Canins Adult Golden Retriever food , which has been his favorite food so far.
If we were to have another puppy, we would definitely start with the Royal Canin Golden Retriever Puppy food.